Somebody's Watching You

Last updated
"Somebody's Watching You"
Song by Little Sister
A-side "Somebody's Watching You"
B-side "Stanga"
Released1970
Label Stone Flower  45-9001
Composer(s) Sylvester Stewart
Producer(s) Sly Stone
Little Sister singles chronology
"You're The One-Part I & II"
(1970)		"Somebody's Watching You"
(1970)		"Stanga"
(1970)

"Somebody's Watching You" was a single for Little Sister in 1970. It became a hit for the group and registered in the Billboard and Cash Box charts.

Contents

Background

This single was a follow up to Little Sister's previous single, "You're the One". [1] Composed by Sylvester Stewart, [2] it was previously recorded by Sly and the Family Stone and appeared on the group's 1969 Stand! album [3]

The recording by Little Sister was reviewed in the November 7, 1970 issue of Record World where it was a four star pick with the reviewer calling it "perfect". [4] It was also at no. 26 in the magazine's Singles Coming Up chart that week. [5]

The song made number 16 on the Cash Box Top Hits of the Year list. [6]

"Stanga" charted as well and made it to no. 44 on the Billboard Soul chart. [7]

Airplay

The November 14 issue of Record World reported that the record was getting played on KATZ in St. Louis. [8]

On the week of January 23, 1971, Record World reported the song at #13 on WAYS; #14 on WQXI; #8 on WBBQ ; #10 on KXOK ; #14 on WSAI; #24 on WRKO; and #11 on WHBQ. It was also on CKLW, WLS, KRLA, KHJ. [9]

Charts

Record world

For the week of October 31, 1970, the single debuted at no. 34 on the Record World Singles Coming Up chart. [10] [11] On November 14, the single was at no. 7 on the Record World One Stop Top Ten chart, Nor Cal section. [12] It also peaked at no. 7 on the Record World R&B chart on January 23, 1971. [13] [14]

Cash Box

On the week of November 28, the single made its debut in the Cash Box Looking Ahead chart at no. 28. [15] [16] It also debuted that week at no. 54 in the Cash Box Top 60 in R and B Locations chart. [17]

On the week of December 5, and at is second week in the Looking Ahead chart, it got to no. 21. [18] On the week of December 12, it made its debut at no. 78 in the Cash Box Top 100. [19]

On the week of January 23, 1971, it peaked at no. 19 in the Top 60 in R and B Locations chart. [20] [21] [22] On the week of February 13, 1971 it peaked at no. 22 in the Cash Box Top 100. [23] [24]

Billboard

On the Billboard Hot 100, it reached no. 32 and peaked at no. 8 on the Billboard soul singles chart. [25]

Other versions

A version was recorded by U.F.O. and released on the Semp label. [26] Al Jarreau recorded a version which appeared on a release in 1976. Black Uhuru recorded a version that was released in 1984. Eternity's Children recorded a version that was released in 2003. [27] Clarence Burke recorded a live version that was released in 2011, [28] and Marcus Shelby had a version that was released in 2014. [29] The song also appeared on a 2014 compilation by Climax. [30] [31] SFJazz Collective had a live version that appeared on a release in 2020. [32]

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References

  1. ↑ Record World, November 7, 1970 - Page 8 record world Single Reviews, FOUR STAR **** PICKS
  2. ↑ MusicGuru - Somebody's Watching You Songtext von Little Sister
  3. ↑ Pop Vortex - #90 Stand! by Sly and the Family Stone
  4. ↑ Record World, November 7, 1970 - Page 8 record world Single Reviews, FOUR STAR **** PICKS
  5. ↑ Record World, November 7, 1970 - Page 15 record world Singles Coming Up
  6. ↑ Cash Box, March 6, 1971 - Page 12 TOP HITS OF THE YEAR, PUBLICATION OF THE YEAR'S BIGGEST HITS TO DATE
  7. ↑ MusicVF.com - Little Sister Top Songs, Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography, 1972
  8. ↑ Record World, November 14, 1970 - Page 36 R & B Beat (Continued from page 34)
  9. ↑ Record World, January 23, 1971 - RECORD WORLD MONEY MUSIC By KAL RUDMAN Little Sister:
  10. ↑ Record World, October 24, 1970 - Page 22 record world Singles Coming Up
  11. ↑ Record World, October 31, 1970 - Page 26 record world Singles Coming Up, 34. SOMEBODY'S WATCHING YOU
  12. ↑ Record World, November 14, 1970 - Page 23 record world ONE STOP Top Ten, NOR CAL ONE STOP (San Francisco)
  13. ↑ Record World, January 23, 1971 - Page 44 RECORD WORLD THE R&B SINGLES CHART, JANUARY 23. 1971, THIS WK. 7, LAST WK. 18
  14. ↑ Record World, January 30, 1971 - Page 42 RECORD WORLD THE R&B SINGLES CHART, JANUARY 30, 1971, THIS WK. 13, LAST WK. 7
  15. ↑ Cash Box, November 22, 1970 - Page 20 Cash Box LOOKING AHEAD
  16. ↑ Cash Box, November 28, 1970 - Page 34 Cash Box LOOKING AHEAD 28
  17. ↑ Cash Box, November 28, 1970 - Page 50 Cash Box Top 60 In R and B Locations, 54
  18. ↑ Cash Box, December 5, 1970 - Page 14 Cash Box LOOKING AHEAD 21
  19. ↑ Cash Box, December 12, 1970 - Page 4 Cash Box Top 100 78, _, _
  20. ↑ Cash Box, January 16, 1971 - Page 32 Cash Box Top 60 In R and B Locations, 22
  21. ↑ Cash Box, January 23, 1971 - Page 39 Cash Box Top 60 In R and B Locations, 19
  22. ↑ Cash Box, January 30, 1971 - Page 30 Cash Box Top 60 In R and B Locations, 25
  23. ↑ Cash Box, February 13, 1971 - Page 4 Cash Box Top 100 22, 24, 25
  24. ↑ Cash Box, February 20, 1971 - Page 4 Cash Box Top 100 25, 22, 24
  25. ↑ MusicVF.com - Somebody's Watching You By: Little Sister
  26. ↑ Popsike - U.F.O - Somebodys Watching You / Gotta Nice Buzz RARE DEEP FUNK GRAIL TRINIDAD
  27. ↑ Second Hand Songs - SONG, Somebody's Watching You VERSIONS
  28. ↑ JioSaavn - Somebody's Watching You (Live), Somebody's Watching You (Live) by Clarence Burke
  29. ↑ Second Hand Songs - SONG, Somebody's Watching You VERSIONS
  30. ↑ Discogs - Climax (6) Featuring Sonny Geraci – Best Of Climax Featuring Sonny Geraci
  31. ↑ muziekweb - Best of Climax featuring Sonny Geraci : Precious and few Climax (US)
  32. ↑ Second Hand Songs - SONG, Somebody's Watching You VERSIONS
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